by Tao Wong
“Never saw the need,” Tou He said with a shrug. “My Master’s never mentioned it either.”
“Har,” Wu Ying said with a slight smile. At least, for once, he had something up on his friend. A bit petty perhaps, but he could accept petty. “Need me to watch you during your assessments?”
“Yes.”
“Let’s go.”
***
Wu Ying sat beside Tou He in the courtyard of his friend’s residence, watching the small bamboo grove sway. It amused Wu Ying to realize that this was the first time he had visited his friend’s residence. Somehow, they had always met on the streets or in Wu Ying’s place. There was, in the basics, little difference between Wu Ying’s residence and Tou He’s, but in the details, the differences were significant. The walls were all covered and painted. Numerous beautiful works of art that helped promote a serene mindfulness littered the residence. Tou He too had a servant, but unlike Ah Yee, his was younger and prettier. The garden around the residence was well cared for and larger, and the courtyard better stocked with training equipment. None of which were being put to use at the moment.
Wu Ying watched as his friend meditated, chi gathering around Tou He’s body as he breathed, slowly running through test after test. There was, unfortunately, no single test to ascertain one’s strength in every area, so Tou He had to conduct the numerous exercises one after the other. Many of those exercises required the cultivator to exhaust a significant portion of their stored chi, an always dangerous process. Afterward, Tou He would have to cultivate and restore the chi levels before repeating the process.
During the testing periods, like now, Wu Ying paid full attention to his friend, playing over and over the cautionary words that Fairy Yang had left them with. If things went bad, Wu Ying was ready to strike the necessary acupressure points or feed Tou He their gathered spirit pills.
During the times when Tou He was resting and recuperating, Wu Ying could take his attention off his friend and pay attention to his own cultivation exercises. By this time, Wu Ying had grown so competent with his Aura Strengthening exercise that he rarely consciously paid attention to it. But with Elder Ko’s and Fairy Yang’s recent talks, he took the time to review the original text of the document and his own understanding, assessing his application with the theoretical ideal.
Aura Strengthening techniques were based upon the idea of enforcing the exterior boundaries of an individual’s aura more firmly. Eventually, one was expected to shrink that aura down, making it part of their skin and effectively invisible to others. The process of strengthening one’s aura required first the sensing of it, then the slow reinforcement of the membrane, the edge between a cultivator’s aura and the external world.
Something that Wu Ying had noticed while browsing the Dragon Scale technique was the way both approached the idea of adjusting the membrane. Taking inspiration from it, Wu Ying traced the “ridges” of his own aura, feeling the way it shifted and twisted in its natural form. At first, all Wu Ying did was sense it. Eventually, Wu Ying pushed more of his chi into those locations, “smoothing” out the bumps and the occasional breaks.
As he smoothed out his aura, Wu Ying felt his aura grow more compact and stronger and, as importantly for the cultivation exercise, hidden flaws in the membrane were exposed. Those, Wu Ying took the time to patch up, mentally sewing the gaps closed by further layering cultivation. It was, Wu Ying knew, a lot of work for little visible results, but it would, in time, reduce his chi signature, his aura, even further. And as Wu Ying had learned, it also helped him reduce the “waste” that so many other cultivators experienced.
Hours passed, their mutual exercises crossing days. Unlike real school, the random disappearance of a cultivator from their classes was not unexpected. Enlightenment was not something that could be dictated by schedules, so teachers understood and made concessions. Even for those cultivators with assignments that required an individual’s presence, leeway was provided.
Eventually, Tou He stood and stretched, coming out of his cross-legged posture and flashed Wu Ying a smile. After cleaning themselves, the pair headed for the buffet of food laid out for their consumption and set to with gusto. It was long minutes later, when the two were replete with sustenance, that they broke the silence.
“So?” Wu Ying said.
“Interesting results.”
Wu Ying raised an eyebrow but did not inquire further. One of the aspects of being friends with another cultivator was the understanding that there were certain things you did not ask about, especially if the information was not directly offered.
“Library?” Wu Ying said instead.
“Eventually,” Tou He said, a light frown crossing his normally happy face. When Wu Ying stayed silent, Tou He finally relented. “I’ve got to decide which weakness to patch up. And if the sect can help.”
“Oh,” Wu Ying said. If that was the case, whatever weakness Tou He had located in his body, that weakness was not something the sect specialized in fixing. Which meant that it was either an issue with density or storage. Those were significant weaknesses for a cultivator that would, in time, create a “soft” cap on what the cultivator could do. It would, to some extent, also explain how Tou He had progressed so fast in his cultivation, since the density or volume of his dantian might be quite small. Optimal for a quick progression to begin, but a hindrance when one needed to form a Core. “Thank you for telling me.”
“Telling you what?” Tou He said.
Wu Ying’s lips quirked, then he shook his head. “I don’t know either.”
The pair traded glances before breaking into laughter, staring at the remnants of the meal left behind.
***
As Tou He’s business was done, Wu Ying found himself returning to his own routine. His friend had assured him that he would speak to Wu Ying if he did take further action, but for now, Tou He would train, check the library, and speak to his sponsor. Knowing that Tou He, unlike him, had a reliable sponsor made Wu Ying relax. For once, that burgeoning streak of jealousy had died down, wiped away by the realization that everyone had their own circumstances and their own difficulties. In the end, the road of cultivation would always have dips and turns.
Over the next few days, Wu Ying worked on his new cultivation exercise. The Iron Reinforced Bones technique was not an easy technique to progress, as the changes it made occurred slowly. And once Wu Ying realized this, he was forced to make a new decision.
“Rebuild my entire body at the same time or concentrate on a few areas?” Wu Ying muttered to himself.
Things would be so much simpler if he knew how long it would take to convert either, but until he committed to the process, Wu Ying could not get a good estimate. If Wu Ying rebuilt his entire body at once, he would have no localized weaknesses but would also not see any effect for a long time. Rebuilding a single bone—or series of bones—meant that he would gain significantly increased defenses in one area. In the end, Fairy Yang’s earlier admonishment about haste rang through Wu Ying’s mind.
“I have nothing to do anyway,” Wu Ying said. Even if he was just at Body Cleansing 9, barring death, he was certain to see at least another seven decades. What was a few years more as a Body Cleanser, working on his cultivation?
Drawing a deep breath, Wu Ying made the choice and pushed other thoughts aside, focusing on the actual process of the exercise. Then he ran into the next roadblock—sensing his own bone structure. If he pressed with his fingers, Wu Ying could feel his bones beneath his skin. But sensing his bones within his body without doing that? It was not something he could do, at least not yet.
Over the next week, Wu Ying added the new exercise to his routine, splitting the time he would otherwise use for his cultivation to increase the base level of chi in his body with the new exercise. In time, by moving his chi through his body and following the pathways and the way they interacted with his bones, Wu Ying located and sensed his skeletal structure. He even managed to begin the slow process of repairing
the damage from his regular routine of exercise and fighting.
It amused him, somewhat, that the new cultivation exercise saw the greatest fruits of development after his sparring periods with the martial specialists. There, the constant abuse his body faced, along with the increased exercises he put his body through, saw microfractures arise, microfractures that his chi filled with a greater density of bone than normal. Wu Ying had an inkling that the Bone Strengthening was a technique he could eventually conduct without conscious thought, much like his aura strengthening exercise. But that would require him reaching at least Minor Achievement, if not Major. Considering the actual process required a readjustment of his body, it was probably best that he take it slow.
***
Feet apart. Wooden dummy ahead. One hand extended. Second one by his ribs, fully retracted. Inhale. Exhale and punch, twist with foot, hip, and shoulders as back arm extends and front hand retracts. At the last second, just before impact, rotate arm to bring top two knuckles in line with the center of the wooden post. Stay relaxed through the entire process, tensing at the end to reduce impact before relaxing again.
The solid impact of fist on wood ran through Wu Ying’s arm, entering his body and jarring him. Even as he felt the reverberations finish, he repeated the process on the other side. Eyes narrowed, Wu Ying repeated the action. Two hundred punches—one hundred on each side—was the minimum number each day. Each motion was planned, focused. Each punch was carefully analyzed as Wu Ying worked to perfect the motion.
Wu Ying focused on the external rotation, the structure of his body, to ensure that he had the movements perfect. Though the manual on external power generation helped in that regard. No, Wu Ying was focused deeper. Sensing the flow of his chi, driving his chi with each motion and pulling it back at the same time. Internal chi manipulation, along with external rotation, was at the heart of the Mountain Breaking Fist.
A hundred punches with each hand against hard rosewood. After finishing the practice, Wu Ying straightened and walked away, shaking his numb and aching fists. Blood dripped from torn open wounds, punches that had landed off-angle and skidded along the hardwood, tearing old scabs and skin.
“Thank you, Ah Yee,” Wu Ying said as he dipped his injured hands into the pail of ice-cold water the servant had laid out for him. The shock made Wu Ying hiss, but he forced himself to keep his hands in the pail, watching the clear water stain with his blood.
“Of course, my lord,” Ah Yee said.
“Not a lord.” Flexing his fingers in the cold, Wu Ying winced as his newly wakened nerves sent their protest over their abuse. In another minute, he would start the next set of forms.
“Yes, my lord.”
Wu Ying ignored the servant as he considered the Mountain Breaking Fist. The more he practiced the style, the more Wu Ying realized that Elder Ko must have picked this style with care. It was not exactly an internal energy style, nor did the Mountain Breaking Fist rely solely on external. Instead, it combined the two and the flow and projection of chi to provide maximum impact. That the style could be used without the full projection of chi allowed Wu Ying to practice the technique, but at a much-reduced effectiveness.
Still.
Wu Ying exhaled and sent a pulse of chi out through a clenched fist. The formerly still pail water twisted and jumped as the sudden force rebounded from the bottom of the pail. Water splashed out, soaking Wu Ying’s shirt and making him smile wryly. Even this small projection was better than what he had managed before. Much better…
“Do you wish a clean shirt, my lord?”
Wu Ying shook his head. “No, I’ll need to wash after anyway.”
“Of course.” Ah Yee took the pail as Wu Ying walked over to the empty center of the courtyard. “I’ll exchange the water.”
“Thank you.”
Wu Ying exhaled and closed his eye. Next. Forms for the Mountain Breaking Fist. Then Wu Ying would try the next step in the Long family style. Specifically, he would try to replicate the next step, the one that his father could only offer minor pointers on as he was not in the Energy Storage stage himself. The Dragon’s Breath. Projection of energy through the jian by making the sword part of oneself.
Afterward, exercise. Then work on his Iron Reinforced Bones technique to help fix his aching hands and tired body. All that before he had his second breakfast and went to class. Wu Ying’s days were busy. But busy in a good way.
***
And so, day after day passed, week transforming into another week as the winter months ground on. Training with Elder Hsu continued, as did Wu Ying’s personal martial and strength training while the cultivation exercises grew in familiarity. For Wu Ying, this was a peaceful period in his cultivation journey, a time when he grew without worry or concern. A time when he could stop, learn, and improve himself.
Sadly, Wu Ying knew all such times must come to pass, like winter itself.
Chapter 9
When Wu Ying arrived at the martial specialists’ training ground, he was surprised to see it buzzing with a larger number of trainees than normal. Further to Wu Ying’s surprise, the cultivators were not in the sparring rings but gathered around Senior Ge.
“What’s going on?” Wu Ying asked Tou He when he managed to make his way to his friend.
“Aftereffects of ghost month[44],” Tou He said.
“So late?” Wu Ying said.
The sect’s observances of the ghost festival had been perfunctory, consisting more of hitting all the necessary rituals rather than any actual veneration for the dead. They had made the offerings of vegetarian food, burnt the incense and joss paper at the entrances of the sect in large urns, and raised the spirit formations. In truth, the entire month had passed so quickly that Wu Ying had barely paid it attention, as he was so caught up in his own training. Still, the ghosts who were not appeased would create trouble immediately after the gates to hell had closed, rather than waiting for months.
“The sect only takes action after the local residents have done their part,” an older student said, glancing back at Wu Ying and Tou He. “It’s not as if we’re going to act without payment after all.”
“Oh,” Wu Ying said, recalling that all those sect contribution points and funds had to come from somewhere. “What are we doing then?”
“Receiving our assignments,” the same student said, absently tucking a strand of long hair behind one ear. “The most senior students get first pick. Then Senior Ge helps coordinate who goes where.”
“Right.” Wu Ying scratched his head, stepping back out of the crowd. As he was not technically a martial specialist, the entire allocation of posts was not really something he was directly involved in. On the other hand, it was not as if these assignments were only for martial specialists. They were just the preferred audience.
As cultivators received their orders, they split up with their assigned groups, leaving the training grounds one by one. In the meantime, Wu Ying had to wonder how they knew the allocation was even happening at all. Did it happen every year at a certain time? Or was it a daisy chain of servants running around and informing each other? Perhaps that was what the other cultivators did with their servants. Certainly Wu Ying had noticed that the assignment hall had outer sect members and non-cultivators lining up and hanging out a lot. Of course, Ah Yee was a little old and had her hands full taking care of his residence. Still, it was something he should investigate.
“Wu Ying. Tou He. Are you both up to an assignment?” Chao Kun said to them when the vast majority of the crowd had dispersed.
“Us? ” Wu Ying said, surprised.
“Yes.”
“Don’t you have others?” Wu Ying said, glancing at the others who still stood around.
“Yes, but I’ve got more work than people,” Chao Kun said. “If you sign up with us, I have some control over where you go. Unlike if you go with the assignment hall.”
“Does that mean I have to leave the sect?” Tou He said, glancing northward and eying the forest-c
overed mountains that surrounded the sect.
“Yes. You’re also running short on contribution points, no?” Chao Kun said.
Tou He winced but acquiesced. Wu Ying hesitated, knowing that he did not need to take the assignment. But when he spotted Tou He looking at him, he could not help but voice his own agreement.
“Excellent.” Chao Kun handed them the scroll he held. “You have Hongmao village. Map included. It’s a small group of hopping vampires[45]. Bring lots of rice.”
***
“Why couldn’t we take the rice from the bottom of the mountain?” Wu Ying grumbled as he carried the rice sack down, along with the remainder of his camping equipment. Carrying an entire bag down the mountain when there were literally hundreds of bags at the bottom made no sense. It did not help that Wu Ying’s storage ring was filled with the most important necessities—his weapons, his personal copies of his cultivation manuals, and notes for the next stage of his cultivation exercises. Of course, the cultivation exercises and the martial styles had to be left behind. With all that, there was no space for a big bag of rice.
“Paperwork,” Tou He said. “They need to account for each bag, which means they have to account for the ones down there when they come up.”
“I know that, it’s just…” Wu Ying shook his head. It hurt his heart to think that this could be one of the very same bags he had hauled up earlier in the year. “And why am I carrying the rice?”
“Because I’m carrying the camping gear?” Tou He pointed out.
Wu Ying fell silent since he had no counter. Rather than continue that line of conversation, he turned the topic to their actual assignment. “Did you manage to get any further information from the villagers?”
